Recovery vehicle

ABSTRACT

A recovery vehicle for rescuing stranded vehicles from confined or restricted areas includes a wheeled chassis (2, 6) on which is mounted a vehicle support body (40) movable by an hydraulic mechanism (44) between an inoperative position superimposed on the chassis (2, 6) and an operative position extending rearwardly of the chassis (2, 6). The vehicle support body (40) is rotatable about a vertical axis relative to the chassis (2, 6) by a primary hydraulic ram located substantially within the confines of the chassis (2, 6). The vehicle support body (40) also is pivotal on the chassis (2, 6) to engage the rear end of the vehicle support body on the ground when in its operative position. Such an arrangement enables recovery of stranded vehicles other than aligned with the recovery vehicle.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to recovery vehicles, and more particularly tosuch vehicles incorporating tilt and slide flat bed bodies to receivethereon stranded vehicles.

BACKGROUND

It is well established practice to provide a recovery vehicleincorporating a tilt and slide flat bed body the carrying surface ofwhich can be slid rearwards relative to the chassis of the recoveryvehicle and then tilted so that its rear end engages the ground wherebya stranded vehicle can be winched aboard. The body is then returned toits original position on the chassis with the stranded vehicle thereon.

Such arrangements suffer from the major disadvantage that strandedvehicles can only be recovered from positions directly behind therecovery vehicle, it being necessary to line up the recovery vehiclewith the stranded vehicle prior to rescue. Thus recovery of vehiclesstranded in narrow streets or restricted areas is often difficult.

It has been proposed, for example in EP-A-0087752, to mount the flat bedbody on a turntable whereby the body can be lined up with strandedvehicles other than directly in line with the main chassis of therecovery vehicle.

However, the turntable mechanisms, which are usually driven by electricmotors through intermeshing worms and gears, are of substantial heightand weight, reducing the capacity of the recovery vehicle and extendingabove the main chassis of the recovery vehicle whereby the angle ofapproach of the stranded vehicle onto the extended flat bed body issteep.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It would be desirable to be able to provide a recovery vehicleincorporating a rotatable flat bed body, but in a more compact andlightweight manner than heretofore.

According to the present invention there is provided a recovery vehiclecomprising a main chassis, a turntable mounted on the main chassis to berotatable about a vertical axis, a vehicle support body mounted on theturntable and movable relative to the main chassis between aninoperative position superimposed on the main chassis and an operativeposition extending rearwardly of the main chassis, and means reactingbetween the main chassis and the turntable to rotate the vehicle supportbody said vertical axis, characterised in that the means reactingbetween the main chassis and the turntable comprises a first hydraulicram the position of the line of action of which relative to theturntable can be altered whereby the vehicle support body can beselectively rotated in either direction about said vertical axis, thefirst hydraulic ram including a piston the free end of which ispivotally attached to the turntable, and a cylinder movable along anarcuate guide track, fixed relative to the main chassis, by means of asecond hydraulic ram reacting between the main chassis and the cylinderof the first hydraulic ram, the arrangement being such that, onextension of the second hydraulic ram from a retracted position, theline of action of the first hydraulic ram is moved from a positionextending to one side of a line interconnecting the free end of thepiston of the first hydraulic ram and the vertical axis to a positionextending to the other side of said line.

The main chassis may include a vehicle chassis and a subframe rigidlysecured to the vehicle chassis, the turntable being mounted to thesubframe and the first hydraulic ram reacting between the subframe andthe turntable.

Such an arrangement enables the vehicle support body and the associatedrotating mechanism to be provided as a unit for rigidly securing to thevehicle chassis of the recovery vehicle.

Conveniently the vehicle support body is mounted to the turntable bymeans of an intermediate subframe longitudinally fixed relative to saidturntable but pivotal about a horizontal axis relative thereto, wherebythe vehicle support body can be tilted relative to the turntable, thevehicle support body being movable horizontally relative to theintermediate subframe between its inoperative and operative positions.

Preferably the intermediate subframe is pivotal by means of a thirdhydraulic ram reacting between the turntable and the intermediatesubframe, and the vehicle support body is movable longitudinallyrelative to the intermediate subframe by means of a fourth hydraulic ramreacting between the vehicle support body and the intermediate subframe.

Conveniently the first hydraulic ram is mounted to be confinedsubstantially within the vertical extent of the main chassis.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the vehicle support body ismounted on a turntable, the turntable being mounted on the main chassisto be rotatable relative thereto about said vertical axis, the primaryhydraulic ram reacting between the main chassis and the turntable.

The main chassis may include a vehicle chassis and a subframe rigidlysecured to the vehicle chassis, the turntable being mounted to thesubframe and the primary hydraulic ram reacting between the subframe andthe turntable.

Such an arrangement enables the vehicle support body and the associatedrotating mechanism to be provided as a unit for rigidly securing to thevehicle chassis of the recovery vehicle.

Conveniently the vehicle support body is mounted to the turntable bymeans of an intermediate subframe longitudinally fixed relative to saidturntable but pivotal about a horizontal axis relative thereto, wherebythe vehicle support body can be tilted relative to the turntable, thevehicle support body being movable horizontally relative to theintermediate subframe between its inoperative and operative positions.

Preferably the primary hydraulic ram is mounted to be confinedsubstantially within the vertical extent of the main chassis.

The position of the line of action of the primary hydraulic ram can bealtered whereby the vehicle support body can be selectively rotated ineither a clockwise or an anticlockwise direction about said verticalaxis.

Conveniently the primary hydraulic ram comprises a piston the free endof which is pivotally attached to the turntable and a cylinder mountedto the main chassis, said cylinder being movable relative to the mainchassis to alter the line of action of the primary hydraulic ramrelative to the vehicle support body.

Preferably the cylinder of the primary hydraulic ram is movable along anarcuate guide track, fixed relative to the main chassis, by means of asecondary hydraulic ram reacting between the main chassis and thecylinder of the primary hydraulic ram, the arrangement being such that,on extension of the secondary hydraulic ram from a retracted position,the line of action of the primary hydraulic ram is moved from a positionextending to one side of said vertical axis to a position extending tothe other side of said vertical axis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a recovery vehicle accordingto the invention;

FIGS. 2a and 2b are, respectively, an exploded side view and an explodedplan view of a recovery vehicle according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the turntable and intermediate subframe of arecovery vehicle according to the invention with the subframe in aretracted position;

FIG. 4 is a section on line A--A of FIG. 3 with the subframe in anupwardly pivoted position;

FIGS. 5a and 5b are schematic undersides plan views of the turntable ofa recovery vehicle according to the invention with the first hydraulicram in a retracted and an extended position respectively;

FIGS. 6a and 6b are schematic underside plan views similar to that ofFIG. 5a but showing the second hydraulic ram in an extended position anda retracted position respectively;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a recovery vehicle according to the inventionshowing the vehicle support body in a partially rotated position, and

FIG. 8 is a side view of the vehicle of FIG. 7 showing the vehiclesupport body rotated through 90° and tilted to ground level.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, the illustrated recovery vehicle comprises awheeled chassis 2 to which is bolted, by way of brackets 4, a subframe 6to constitute, together with the wheeled chassis 2, a main chassis tothe vehicle.

Welded to the subframe 6 is a platform indicated generally at 8 andcomprising an annular portion 10 and a diametrical member 12 providedwith a central bearing 14 for reasons which will become apparent.

Strengthening beams 16 extend between the subframe 6 and the annularportion 10 to provide rigidity to the platform 8.

Mounted on the platform 8 is a turntable indicated generally at 18 andcomprising a base plate 20 provided with a vertical stub axle 22 locatedin the bearing 14 whereby the turntable 18 can rotate relative to theplatform 8 about a vertical axis.

Welded to the upper surface of the base plate 20 are a pair of parallel,hollow beams 24 one end of each of which is provided with a horizontalbore 26 therethrough.

An intermediate subframe indicated generally at 28 is mounted on theturntable 18 as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 to be rotatable with theturntable 18 but pivotal relative thereto. More particularly, thesubframe 28 includes a pair of parallel members 30 located outwardly ofand adjacent to the beams 24 of the turntable 18, and in which areformed horizontal bores 32, pivot pins 34 extending through the alignedbores 26, 32 of the members 30 and the beams 24 whereby the subframe 28can be pivoted relative to the turntable 18.

This pivoting movement is achieved by way of an hydraulic ram 36reacting between the turntable 18 and the subframe 28 through a seriesof links 38. Extension of the ram 36 raises the subframe 28 from theposition shown in FIG. 2 to that shown in FIG. 4, and retraction of theram returns the subframe to a position co-planar with the turntable 18.

A relatively conventional tilt and slide flat bed vehicle support bodyis indicated generally at 40 and is mounted on, to be slidable relativeto, the intermediate subframe 28.

More particularly, the underside of the body 40 is provided with a pairof opposed, parallel, inwardly-open channel section members 42 whichembrace the members 30 of the subframe 28 to be guided thereby forlongitudinal sliding movement of the body 40 on the subframe 28.

This longitudinal movement is effected by means of an hydraulic ram 44mounted longitudinally of the subframe 28 and reacting between thesubframe 28 and the body 40.

The mechanism so far described is relatively lightweight, comprisingprimarily hollow box section beams, and is of relatively compact formwith the turntable 18 and subframe 28 being located just above the mainchassis 2,6, and the flat bed body 40 sliding on said subframe 28.

The turntable 18 and associated components are rotated by means of asingle hydraulic ram 46 mounted within the confines of the main chassisand reacting between the subframe 6 and the underside of the base plate20 of the turntable 18.

More particularly, the free end of the piston of the ram 46 is pivotallyattached at 48 to the underside of the plate 20 at a pointlongitudinally displaced from the axis of rotation of the turntable 18as best seen in FIGS. 5a and 5b.

The free end of the cylinder of the ram 46 is mounted to an arcuateguide track 50 secured to the subframe 6 of the vehicle, the cylinderbeing movable along the track 50 and being securable to the track 50 ateither end thereof in one or other of the positions shown in FIGS. 6aand 6b.

Movement of the cylinder of the ram 46 is effected by means of a furtherhydraulic ram 52 the free end of the piston of which is pivotallyattached to a bracket 54 carrying the cylinder of the ram 46, the freeend of the cylinder of the ram 52 being pivotally mounted to theunderside of the platform 8 at 56, the ram extending through an aperture59 in the subframe 6.

With the ram 52 in its extended condition as shown in FIG. 6a, extensionof the ram 46 results in rotation of the turntable 18 in the directionof the arrow in FIGS. 5a and 6a to the position shown in FIG. 5b.

Retraction of the ram 52 to the condition shown in FIG. 6b moves the ram46 to a position in which the line of action thereof extends to theother side of the axle 22 whereby extension of the ram 46 results inrotation of the turntable 18 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 6b.

Catchment means (comprising V-shaped component 58 and lip components 60)are provided on the front of the subframe 6 for the body 40. Thesecatchment means serve to guide the front of the body 40 into a centralposition on the chassis 2,6 to correct any operator misalignment whenthe body 40 is being reloaded onto the chassis 2,6, the V-shapedcomponent 58 guiding the two members 42 into positions parallel with thechassis 2,6.

Furthermore, in the rest position of the body 40, the ends of themembers 42 are clamped flat to the subframe 6 underneath lips providedby the components 60.

Before the body 40 can be rotated, it must be moved rearwards of thechassis 2,6 to disengage the members 42 from the lips of the components60, thereby ensuring that the body 40, on rotation thereof, does notinterfere with the cab 62 of the vehicle.

Flat plates 64 are welded to the top of each side member of the subframe6 to compensate for the thickness of the platform 8 and whereby theupper surfaces of the subframe 6 and platform 8 are co-planar.

As shown in FIG. 7, stabilizers 66 are provided on the forward end ofthe plate 20 of the turntable 18 to hook under the platform 8 to preventthe turntable 18 lifting away from the platform 8 on the applicationthereto of an asymmetric load as occurs when the body 40 is movedrearwardly of the vehicle.

Hydraulic stays 68 are provided to each side of the main chassis 2,6 forsupport purposes.

The described vehicle is used to recover a stranded vehicle as follows.

The recovery vehicle is maneuvered until the rear end thereof isadjacent the vehicle to be recovered and the stays 68 are lowered to theground as shown in FIG. 7. The hydraulic ram 44 is then actuated torelease the front of the body 40 from the catchment means and to movethe body 40 rearwards on the chassis 2,6 to a fully displaced positionthereon.

The ram 52 is actuated to locate the ram 46 in the appropriate positionrelative to the track 50 dependant upon the direction of rotationrequired to align the body 40 with the stranded vehicle, and said ram 46is extended to rotate the body 40 to the selected angle relative to thechassis 2,6 as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 7.

The body 40 is then tilted by appropriate actuation of the ram 36 untilthe rear of the body 40 touches the ground adjacent the strandedvehicle, which can then be winched onto, and secured to, the body 40.

As with conventional recovery vehicles, the body 40 may include aspectacle lift or the like at its rear end to enable a second car to becarried thereby.

The body 40, together with the or each vehicle thereon, is remounted onthe chassis 2,6 by reversing the above-described sequence of operations.

Thus there is provided a recovery vehicle capable of recovering strandedvehicles from narrow streets or restricted areas in which it is notpossible to align the recovery vehicle with the vehicle to be rescued.

The flat bed body 40 of the described vehicle can be rotated through upto of the order of 90° to each side of the longitudinal axis of thevehicle, the rotating mechanism and the hydraulic rams for powering thesame being of a relatively simple, compact nature, the latter beingcapable of being housed within the confines of the chassis of thevehicle, and the former protruding only slightly above the upper levelof the chassis.

It will be appreciated that the flat bed body 40 and the associatedmechanisms for controlled rotation thereof are all mounted on thesubframe 6, and can therefore be secured as a unit on the vehiclechassis 2.

What is claimed is:
 1. A recovery vehicle comprising a main chassis, aturntable mounted on the main chassis to be rotatable about a verticalaxis, a vehicle support body mounted on the turntable and movablerelative to the main chassis between an inoperative positionsuperimposed on the main chassis and an operative position extendingrearwardly of the main chassis, and rotation means reacting between themain chassis and the turntable to rotate the vehicle support body aboutsaid vertical axis,characterized in that the rotation means reactingbetween the main chassis and the turntable comprises a first hydraulicram the position of a line of action of which relative to the turntablecan be altered whereby the vehicle support body can be selectivelyrotated in either direction about said vertical axis, the firsthydraulic ram including a piston the free end of which is pivotallyattached to the turntable, and a cylinder movable along an arcuate guidetrack fixed relative to the main chassis by a second hydraulic ramreacting between the main chassis and the cylinder of the firsthydraulic ram, the arrangement being such that, on extension of thesecond hydraulic ram from a retracted position, the line of action ofthe first hydraulic ram is moved from a position extending to one sideof a line interconnecting the free end of the piston of the firsthydraulic ram and the vertical axis to a position extending to the otherside of said line.
 2. A recovery vehicle as claimed in claim 1 in whichthe main chassis includes a vehicle chassis and a subframe rigidlysecured to the vehicle chassis, the turntable being mounted to thesubframe and the first hydraulic ram reacting between the subframe andthe turntable.
 3. A recovery vehicle as claimed in claim 2 in which thevehicle support body is mounted to the turntable by means of anintermediate subframe longitudinally fixed relative to the turntable butpivotal about a horizontal axis relative thereto, whereby the vehiclesupport body can be tilted relative to the turntable, the vehiclesupport body being movable longitudinally relative to the intermediatesubframe between its operative and inoperative positions.
 4. A recoveryvehicle as claimed in claim 3 in which the intermediate subframe ispivotal by means of a third hydraulic ram reacting between the turntableand the intermediate subframe, and the vehicle support body is movablelongitudinally relative to the intermediate subframe by means of afourth hydraulic ram reacting between the vehicle support body and theintermediate subframe.
 5. A recovery vehicle as claimed in claim 1 inwhich the first hydraulic ram is mounted to be confined substantiallywithin the vertical extent of the main chassis.